In a first, AMU doctors perform rare surgery, save man’s foot from amputation

AGRA: For 55-year-old Khalil Ahmad, a resident of Amroha district, life came to a virtual standstill when he found that he could not lift his right leg. The accompanying pain made matters worse.
For three months, he somehow managed to hobble from doctor to doctor, including some in Delhi, but their advice was the same — an amputation of his right foot.

But life apparently had better plans for him. When Ahmad reached Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College (JNMC), Aligarh Muslim University for treatment, doctors said it was possible to save his foot.

According to doctors, Ahmad’s problem started due to blockages in iliac arteries, with a non-healing ulcer on the right foot and a swelling in the right big toe.

Dr Malik M Azharuddin, associate professor, Centre of Cardiology, and Dr Azam Haseen, associate professor, CTVS (Cardio-Thoraco Vascular surgery) department performed a peripheral angioplasty and restored the blood flow to the patient's lower limb.

Dr Malik said such a type of surgery has been performed for the first time in Aligarh. He said it is very rare even in government hospitals.

Ahmad has now recovered and will soon be discharged from hospital. He will be able to walk without pain.

Talking with TOI, Dr Malik said Ahmad’s condition was so critical that it was not possible to perform an open surgery through his abdomen as his right foot was badly affected and infection was spreading. “We decided to perform an angioplasty through his arm,” said Dr Malik, adding that the patient could have lost his leg if the surgery had not been performed on time. He said they were unable to save his right toe as he had lost valuable time running from one hospital to another.